elbow pains

BellBottomBlues · #1 08-24-2007, 05:50 PM

howdy all. Recently whenever I straighten out my left arm I get stabbing pains in my elbow. Has this happened to anyone else?

The only thing different about my playing is a slightly shorter strap.

I'm pretty sure its not pulled or sprained, it looks normal and doesn't hurt when I touch it. Its been killing me since the beginning of August though

gottawalk · #2 08-24-2007, 08:45 PM

You may actually have a case of "tennis elbow" and it's gotten inflamed some. Time to see the doc and get some anti-inflamatories. In the meantime, try moving the elbow a bit between songs and stretch the tendons. One thing about playing is that the elbow pretty much stays in the same position for a long period of time and it stiffens up, and then you stop playing and move it around quickly and pack up your gear and overwork the tightened tendons. Ice it a couple times a day, too.

If it's been on-going for a while, I suggest you see a doc and have it checked out. Good luck!

Asa Samuel · #3 08-25-2007, 03:54 PM

is there anything i can do to help stop this happening in the future, i have no problems at the moment but would like to avoid it if possible.

Poop-Loops · #4 08-25-2007, 03:55 PM

Post a pic of your technique. Where exactly is the pain?

BellBottomBlues · #5 08-26-2007, 12:48 AM

I'll post a pic of me from one of recent shows. This is the day I got the new strap so it should be august 3rd.

The pain is an ache in the entire elbow when I start bending it straight and I get sharp stabbing pains where the elbow pad is (dunno how else to call it. the part that hits the table when you pray?) whenever its all the way straight.

I'll see if pics are on my band's site, if not I'll ask the guitar player

Asa Samuel · #6 08-26-2007, 05:01 AM

that sounds quite alot like tennis elbow.

you can get straps with a pad that goes very tight over than area, it works wonders for tennis elbow.

Jerry Ziarko · #7 08-26-2007, 11:02 AM

I'm not an MD, but been there done that. Tendonitis is most likely the cause. The tendons in question are actually in the fore arm, but the pain is most severe where it attaches to the bone. (elbow) It is from the extension of the tendon that causes this condition. I had to have multiple cortisone shots (both elbows) in order to be able to function, but then decided to try a different approach. I went to a sports medicine rehab and not only went through intense therapy, but slightly changed the way I did everyday tasks as well as my playing. An easy fix you might want to try first, is lower that strap!!! Even a change of as little as one or two inches might help. Also ice down the fore arm as well as the elbow three times a day, for twenty minutes at a time. Combine this with a safe dose of Motrin or Advil and you may see improvements pretty soon. Be very aware of your arm movements throughout the day. Avoid at all cost, extending your elbow straight out. This is where the problem occurs! Something else you might want to look at is, The Bassist's Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health by Randall Kertz, D.C. It is a well written and illustrated book that not only looks into your specific condition, but many other physical maladies that afflict bass payers in general. Good Luck!

BellBottomBlues · #8 08-26-2007, 07:58 PM

Thanks Jerry. I'd lower my strap, but its the longest it goes (52 inches) so until then, I'm confined to playing sitting down till I make a new strap for it (my old one was 72" long) which I'll try and get done this weekend.

I already missed two shows because of this (first one I had to stop playing completely after the first set, and I asked to sit out the next 2 sets and the show the following night)

Jerry Ziarko · #9 08-26-2007, 08:53 PM

My pain got so bad at one point, that I had to drink a cup of coffee with two hands. As I mentioned I tried cortisone shots which do reduce the inflammation, but really only mask the problem and do not correct the symptoms. The shots are extremely painful as well. A needle is inserted in for or five places in the elbow joint.

I had gone two different times for shots in both elbows. On my third attempt the surgeon talked me out of it. He said while they do alleviate the pain somewhat, scar tissue is building up all the while. He said if I continued down this path, surgery would be inevitable. He recommended a sports therapist that worked wonders for me. I will be forever grateful to her for making the hurt go away. It has been six years now, all pain free.

Folmeister · #10 08-26-2007, 09:06 PM

I got through this about every six months. After several years of therapies and advice, I finally got the truth: There is really nothing to be done. The surgery does little, those $100 arm-band-pressure-thingees do very little, and "sucking it up" seems to be the remedy. First thing, no more PA schlepping! Second, a smaller amp! Third, claim most of the band's free drinks as for yourself.

Fun Size Nick · #11 08-28-2007, 07:33 AM

I'm going through this as well, as a result of working in IT. My advice would be to find a good sports physician or physiotherapist. I am doing a program that consists largely of exercises to build flexibility (ie stretching) and strength (ie weights), working largely on the upper back (the muscles that are the main support for the arms). In my case, the pain is felt largely in the forearms but stems from the neck and shoulders - when the neck and shoulders are flexible and relaxed, the rest of my arms are as well. Don't give up hope, and don't believe anyone who tells you that you can't recover (no offense intended at all to anyone else who's suffering with this and has ongoing difficulties - I'm just saying that it's not a given that a person can't recover from this). I hope you're able to make the neccessary changes and move on.

For me, it's still there - but recovering. Speaking of which, I should get off my computer and stretch